Climbing up into the cab of the apparatus, we heard the initial units go on the scene of the gas explosion and collapse in the East Village in New York City. The transmissions between the dispatcher and units on the scene took priority over everything else as the tone alert and signal were broadcast for a major emergency response, followed by the second and third alarms. Then over the department radio we heard a unit transmit that an officer had given a “Mayday” over the portable radio. Everyone in the rig felt as if they’d just been punched in the gut, knowing the severity of that signal. After backing into quarters, everyone assembled in the housewatch listening to the radio. The alarm tones suddenly went off, and out the door we went on another run. While responding, we heard that the unit transmitting the Mayday was all accounted for.
Getting back to quarters after the run, we all congregated back in the housewatch. The television was on with live news footage. One of the members asked a question, and suddenly an impromptu drill occurred while we watched the action unfold. A section of wall collapsed, and we began going over the importance of the proper uses of a Mayday message. The first point we reviewed was that the signal is used when an immediate life-threatening situation is about to occur or has occurred. All members should cease radio transmissions, and only the incident commander (IC) should speak to the member who transmitted the Mayday.
If your radios are equipped with emergency alert buttons, they can be depressed to send out an audible warning and boost up the wattage of the transmission. Once the message has been received and responded to, the emergency alert button should be reset.
Our department uses a standard way to transmit the signal with the word Mayday being used four times (i.e., “Mayday-Mayday-Mayday-Ladder 1 to Command-Mayday”). Command will acknowledge the transmission and advise Ladder 1 to transmit the message. Once the message has been received, depending on the type of emergency, the IC will give the proper transmission and tactics to rectify the situation.
The following five situations using the acronym “I-O-U My Life” warrant a Mayday transmission:
I-Imminent Collapse. When any member on the fire scene recognizes that an imminent collapse is about to occur, he should transmit the Mayday message. He should also state the location or area of the building (i.e., parapet, rear wall) that is about to collapse. When members hear the transmission, they should stop and listen to where it is about to occur and retreat to a safe location or be guided by the IC’s orders to evacuate the building or seek safety in a said location.
O-Collapse Occurred. Anytime a collapse of a section of a building or large portion of a wall or floor has occurred, a member should transmit the location and extent of the collapse with the Mayday signal. If members or civilians become trapped or injured, this should also be reported. Our department only uses the word collapse for a structural failure; it is not used for a member or civilian who has collapsed. Always be prepared for a secondary collapse or shifting of the debris pile that has collapsed.
U-Unconscious or Serious Life- Threatening Injury. When a member is found unconscious or has suffered a serious or life-threatening injury, the signal should be transmitted. The member transmitting the Mayday should also provide the member’s location, his unit, and the extent of his injuries. He can also tell the IC the tools or equipment that will be needed to remove the member and the best possible route to reach him. The rapid intervention team (RIT) should be monitoring radio transmissions and be listening intently anytime this type of Mayday has been transmitted.
MY-Missing Member. As firefighters, we are always working in teams, and many times we may become partially separated in the structure’s layout and smoke conditions and need to verbally check on the location of our partner. When verbal or radio communication does not exist between the team members, a Mayday signal should be given for a missing member. The member transmitting the signal should provide the missing member’s name, company, assignment (i.e., roof firefighter), and last known location where the member was operating (i.e., in the rear of the basement). If additional resources are needed, such as a hoseline for protection, he should communicate this also. The RIT should also be listening for this type of transmission; one RIT action may be to deploy a two-sided search and rescue plan.
LIFE-Lost or Trapped Members. When a member, members, or an entire company becomes lost or trapped, transmit a Mayday. The member transmitting the message should provide the number and the identity of the members involved, their last known locations, and any landmarks they might have been operating near or at (i.e., the rear of the store near the refrigeration units). If conditions in the vicinity are deteriorating, the communication to the IC should reflect that and include what equipment is needed to alleviate the situation (i.e., hoseline to extinguish visible fire). An IC should always check on the lost or trapped members’ amount of air supply left in their self-contained breathing apparatus.
The five situations above all dictate that a Mayday should be transmitted. They are all serious situations that require life safety measures be taken immediately!
MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 29-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.
